A study in fruit flies has identified serotonin as a chemical that triggers the body’s startle response, the automatic deer-in-the-headlights reflex that freezes the body momentarily in response to a potential threat. Today’s study reveals that when a fly experiences an unexpected change to its surroundings, such as a sudden vibration, release of serotonin helps […]

Changes occur in the placenta in older pregnant mothers leading to a greater likelihood of poor health in their male offspring, a study in rats has shown. Both male and female fetuses do not grow as large in older mothers, but there are sex-specific differences in changes to placental development and function. These are likely […]

A new home urine test for prostate cancer could revolutionize diagnosis — according to new research. As well as diagnosing aggressive prostate cancer, the test predicts whether patients will require treatment up to five years earlier than standard clinical methods. It also means that men don’t have to come into the clinic to provide a […]